Vegetable fiber from pine leaves



UNITED STATES PATENT Q icit.

JOHN GEORGE STEPHENS, OF JERSEY CITY, NENV JERSEY.

VEGETABLE FIBER FROM PINE LEAVES, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,310, dated December '7, 1880. Application filed August 18, 1880. (Specimens) fore the fibers are sufficiently dry to be permanently set; but when crimped or corrugated as I propose their power of elasticity is very greatly increased and made more lasting, and after the crimping process, whichis also a drying process, the fiber is not disturbed until thoroughly dry and permanently set.

The crimping may be donein various ways; but the simplest method is by means of crimping-rollers, the fiber being passed through them after it is manufactured from the raw material, and various devices may be resorted to to render its condition such at the time of passing through the crimping-rollers that the set of the crimps given by the rollers will be permanent. For example, certain degrees 01 moisture and temperature best suited to the purpose may be provided, and the materia may be moistened or more or less saturatet with gummyor resinous substances calculatet to have that effect.

I do not claim, broadly, the fiber manufac tured from pine leaves, nor such fiber whe twisted; but

What I do claim is- The new article of manufacture consistin of the vegetable fiber made from pine an other leaves, when crimped or corrugated sul stantially as describet JOHN GEORGE STEPHENS. Witnesses:

A. P. THAYER,

WM. J. MORGAN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN GEORGE STE- PHENS, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vegetable Fiber from Pine Leaves, 850., of which the following I is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the fiber obtained from Southern pine leaves, and used for upholsterin g purposes, but is also applicable to the fiber of other vegetable substances.

It consists of the fiber produced in crimped form or condition when delivered from the treatment and apparatus by which it is relieved of the pulpy and other matters of the natural state, whereby its usefulness for cushions, mattresses, and other articles in upholstery is greatly increased, the crimpsor kinks giving it the nature of curled hair.

As heretofore prepared for such use, the fibers have been plain and straight, so that however they may be crossed by bunching and mixing together they soon pack down fiat and hard, like hay and straw.

Attempts have also been made to curl these fibers as hair is curled, by twisting them in the form of ropes, and subsequently picking the ropes apart by the use of picking machinery. The fibers lack the strength to bear the picking process without breaking, and they do not in that way get the permanent set necessary for durability, as the ropes must be picked be- 

